Journal TopicJournal Topic

What are some areas of personal What are some areas of personal improvement people tend to improvement people tend to

focus on?focus on?

Which area do you think is most Which area do you think is most important? Why?important? Why?

Essential Question:

What themes, motifs, and values are

expressed in the literature of China?

Confucianism Confucianism “The Way of Goodness”“The Way of Goodness”

““Never do to others what you Never do to others what you would not like them to do to would not like them to do to

you.”you.”

Confucianism (pp.407-Confucianism (pp.407-408)408)

Confucius: K’ung Fu-tzu – Master Confucius: K’ung Fu-tzu – Master K’ungK’ung

• Self-educated man, had deep love of Self-educated man, had deep love of learninglearning

• Believer in education for allBeliever in education for all• Stressed importance of moral Stressed importance of moral

teaching (character training)teaching (character training)• ““Way of Goodness” – traditional Way of Goodness” – traditional

code of personal ethicscode of personal ethics

ConfucianismConfucianism

Some famous sayings of Confucius:Some famous sayings of Confucius:

• I hear and I forget. I see and I I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. remember. I do and I understand.

• Study the past if you would define Study the past if you would define the future. the future.

• Our greatest glory is not in never Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time falling, but in getting up every time we do. we do.

• To see what is right and not to do it To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage. is want of courage.

““The Golden Mean“The Golden Mean“

• An ideal of universal moral and An ideal of universal moral and social social harmony*harmony* that each that each person should strive for through:person should strive for through:– moral educationmoral education– building of harmony in family lifebuilding of harmony in family life– development of personal virtues: development of personal virtues:

(loyalty, obedience, (loyalty, obedience, justice)justice)

• (*What other Chinese idea is suggested here?)

““The Analects” (p. The Analects” (p. 409)409)

• The Analects or “selected sayings” The Analects or “selected sayings” are the teachings of Confuciusare the teachings of Confucius

• Focused on: Focused on: – Development of inner characterDevelopment of inner character

• UnselfishnessUnselfishness• couragecourage• honorhonor

““The Analects” (cont.)The Analects” (cont.)

• MaximMaxim – a concise and direct statement – a concise and direct statement of a rule of conduct or proper behaviorof a rule of conduct or proper behavior

ExEx. Success is getting what you want; . Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you gethappiness is wanting what you get

Try to write your own Maxim.Try to write your own Maxim.

At Your Desks (pp. 409)At Your Desks (pp. 409)

• Read each brief “Analect” carefully Read each brief “Analect” carefully then:then:– Come up with a good title for itCome up with a good title for it– Try to identify the area of personal Try to identify the area of personal

improvement Confucius is addressing improvement Confucius is addressing – What is his main point in the sayingWhat is his main point in the saying

The Analects (pp. 409)The Analects (pp. 409)

• A wise ruler is respected and honoredA wise ruler is respected and honored• The most important thing is how one The most important thing is how one

thinksthinks• Wisdom grows with ageWisdom grows with age• Respect for one’s elders involves Respect for one’s elders involves

more than doing what is expectedmore than doing what is expected• Knowledge of one’s limitations is vitalKnowledge of one’s limitations is vital

Journal Topic

Good times, bad times…(write about 1, the other,

or both)

TaoismTaoism“The Way”“The Way”

TaoismTaoismFounder – Laotzu (man orFounder – Laotzu (man orMyth – reputed to have Myth – reputed to have Lived 160 years) Lived 160 years)

The joyful acceptance of The joyful acceptance of life and a willingness to life and a willingness to yield to the natural world, yield to the natural world, becoming one with itbecoming one with it

““He who knows does not speak. He who He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.”speaks does not know.”

Taoist PracticesTaoist Practices• Purity – avoidance of certain foods, Purity – avoidance of certain foods,

alcohol, certain attitudes (greed, lust, etc.)alcohol, certain attitudes (greed, lust, etc.)• Meditation- practice of creating mental Meditation- practice of creating mental

stillness and enhance mindfulnessstillness and enhance mindfulness• Breathing – practice of breathing exercises Breathing – practice of breathing exercises

to develop control over bodyto develop control over body• Energy Flow – effort to gain control over Energy Flow – effort to gain control over

body’s energybody’s energy• Tai Chi – “martial arts” exercises Tai Chi – “martial arts” exercises

Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching• Tao Te Ching means Classic of the Tao Te Ching means Classic of the

Way of PowerWay of Power• Designed to provide guidance to Designed to provide guidance to

rulers who wished to govern wisely rulers who wished to govern wisely • Reveals the balance found in natureReveals the balance found in nature

Tao Te Ching (cont.)Tao Te Ching (cont.)• Central figure (the Master) has Central figure (the Master) has

achieved absolute harmony with the achieved absolute harmony with the way things are and has become one way things are and has become one with “the Tao, the Truth, the Life”with “the Tao, the Truth, the Life”

• Water is the key symbol for Water is the key symbol for expressing the true nature of Tao expressing the true nature of Tao (fluidity, evenness)(fluidity, evenness)

• Balance is revealed in paradoxes Balance is revealed in paradoxes (yin-yang)(yin-yang)

Consider as You Consider as You Read Read

• What are some examples of What are some examples of paradox paradox found in the Tao Te Ching?found in the Tao Te Ching?

• How is balance and harmony How is balance and harmony revealed?revealed?

• Why might the Tao Te Ching Why might the Tao Te Ching be helpful to a would-be be helpful to a would-be ruler?ruler?

Literary Terms to Literary Terms to KnowKnow• AnecdoteAnecdote – a brief story used to – a brief story used to

illustrate a writer’s pointillustrate a writer’s point• ParadoxParadox – an apparent contradiction – an apparent contradiction

that expresses an actual truththat expresses an actual truth

Ex.Ex. “For when I am weak, then I am “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”strong.”

T’ang Poets: Li Po

• Read the background about Li Po (p. 420) and T’ang poetry (p. 422)

• Then read 2 poems of Li Po’s on p. 423– What nature imagery

is used?– What mood is created

by the use of this imagery?

Knowledge Asked Yellow Knowledge Asked Yellow EmperorEmperor

Knowledge asked the Yellow Knowledge asked the Yellow Emperor and said: "I would like to Emperor and said: "I would like to put some questions to you. By put some questions to you. By what thinking, by what reflection what thinking, by what reflection can I know the Tao? By what can I know the Tao? By what setting, by what activities can I setting, by what activities can I be at peace with the Tao? By be at peace with the Tao? By what procedures, by what way what procedures, by what way can I attain the Tao?"can I attain the Tao?"

Knowledge Asked Yellow Knowledge Asked Yellow EmperorEmperor

"Only with no thinking nor "Only with no thinking nor reflection," said the Yellow reflection," said the Yellow Emperor, "can you begin to know Emperor, "can you begin to know the Tao. Only with no setting nor the Tao. Only with no setting nor activities can you begin to be at activities can you begin to be at peace with the Tao. Only with no peace with the Tao. Only with no procedures nor way can you procedures nor way can you begin to attain the Tao.“begin to attain the Tao.“